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11
received much attention. For some 6 years each newly elected Councillor
to the Borough Council, has been sent a synopsis of all the department's
activities with an invitation to visit, raise any points desired and be
introduced to the actual methods employed in the Sections (I.B.C. and
E.C.C.). This has been well received. A rather unique feature in this
field was the holding in 1958 of a public opinion poll on a small scale,
approximately 500 questionnaires being distributed to members of the
public in receipt of our services, asking for complaints and suggestions.
The results were very satisfactory and reassuring and were published
in a medical journal. Earlier in the year a 3-day Seminar on Public
Relations, organised by the Central Council for Health Education, was
held at the Public Health Offices, at which all branches of the health
services attended and where we critically examined our procedures before
experts.
Health Education functions have grown considerably and continue to
do so. In the 1930s a few pamphlets were issued, e.g. summer diarrhoea,
fly pests, diphtheria immunisation. Now the many leaflets and posters
embrace numerous aspects of health — from the expectant mother to old
folk - including sex education, smoking and lung cancer, and home
accidents. All this is supplemented by lectures (often with films) by the
medical and nursing staff, public health inspectors, welfare officer for old
folk, and domestic help organisers.
That one of the Assistant County Medical Officers devotes a portion
of his time to health education indicates the importance of this subject
in the present day health services. In 1955 the department organised a
Health and Home Safety Exhibition at a business premises in the town,
depicting actual treatment sessions, food hygiene, with lectures on health
topics. I wish the hard work involved were rewarded by bigger attendances
of the public.
The post-war years witnessed the inception of several new Clinics —
the Paediatric, Child Guidance, Speech, Enuresis, Orthoptic and Chiropody
— also the opening of the Manford Way (1951), Kenwood Gardens and
Heathcote Avenue (1960) Health Services Clinics, which enabled several
of these clinics, as also the Ante-Natal, Ear Nose & Throat, Dental,
Orthopaedic, Poliomyelitis Vaccination, Ophthalmic, and Diphtheria
Immunisation Clinics to be held at them, as demand occasioned, with
modern facilities for staff and patients.
Other growth features in the Personal Health Services were:
(i) Domestic Help Service, inaugurated in 1946, with a part-time Organiser
and 15 helps; to-day there are two full-time Organisers, two clerical